Apparatus for molding building blocks



Feb. 23 192e. 1,574,565 .L A. FERGUSON l APPARATUS FOR MOLDING BUILDINGBLOCKS Filed August a. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L. yf'

A-r TOPNEYS.

Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,565

. J. A. FERGUSON` f APPARATUS FOR MOLDING HILDING BLOCKS Filed August 8,1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 %'0 ATTQRNEYS.

Patented Feb. 23, 1926,

UNITED STATES' JOHN A. FERGUSON, 0F ORANGE PARK, FLORIDA.

APPARATUS-,Foa MOLDING BUILDING BLOCKS.

Application filed August 8, 1921. Serial No. 490,675.v

To all 'whom it may concern: n

Be it known that I, JOHN A. FERGUSON, a citizen of the United States,formerly residing at the city and county of Denver and State ofColorado, and now a resident of Orange Park, in the county of Clay andState of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Molding Building Blocks; and I do hereby declare thefollowing to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention,`such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apporta-ins tomake and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in, apparatus for moldingbuilding blocks, or analogous articles, formed from a wet cementitiousmixture.

lVhile the invention has been devised primarily for the purpose ofmanufacturing concrete building blocks with lateral lugs or projections,it will beunderstood that I employ the term concrete in the sense ofincluding building blocks ofequivalent or analogous composite materialand of any appropriate formation, and whether or not they are to beformed with a facing surface such as marble, granite, sand or otherwise,as is now quite a common practice in this art.

It is now generally recognized that better results are obtained ,whenwateris, added Vto the cementitious mixture in sufficient quantity toprovide a highly saturated or quaky wet mass, whereby there is assured amore consolidated or solidified impervious block. Y' j j With machinesas sometimes heretofore employed, for molding such types of `concretebuildingblocks, there has arisenpthe serious -objection that there isformed in the quaky wet mixture larger or smaller interstices, caused byimproper settling and air bubbles, which to a .certain extent destroythe maximum cohesion of the molecular particlesof the mass, and henceresult in blocks that are very porous, absorptive and other-4 wisedefectively weak. The primary aim of the present invention has been todevise a simplified -apparatus for overcoming such objection, especiallyintheV multiple molding of blocks in a single cycle of operations, byimparting to the contents ol' the molding compartments a pulsating orjerky settling motion, which may be referred to conveniently as jiggingi'n the sense of either vertical or horizontal vibratory. agitation.

Other objects and advantages will be 'clearly apparent as incidental tothe following disclosure, and with these prefacing remarks referencewill now be'had to the accompanying drawings, illustrating certainpractical embodiments of the improved apparatus, the two sheets ofdrawings showing substa ntially equivalent elements and operating mecha-`nism but slightly differing in details of structure and the dispositionof parts, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mold, in itsinitial or filling position, that provides a pair of moldingcompartments disposed longitudinally thereof,A although in actualpractice the number and disposition of the compartmentsy are notessentially material, the mounting being such as to provide for verticaldisplacement with reference to a jigging support, whether a tableorequivalent means, and the mechanism for jigging the latter not beingillustrated as any well known means may be employed for that purpose;Figure 2 is a view analogous to Fig. 1, but with the mold shown in itsinverted position on the jigging support; Figure 3 is a view analogousto Fig. 2, but with the mold shown iny an elevated position and with themolded building blocks discharged therefrom; Figure 4 is a Viewsubstantially analogous to Fig. 1, in the initial position afterfilling, but illustrating a transverse y arrangement of the moldingcompartments as well as other` details, with portions of the structurebroken away and with the cementitious mixture omitted from the mold formseen, to more clearly disclose the structure and arrangement of thelatter; and Fi ure 5 is a view substantially analogous to Fig. 3 butwith reference to the arrangement of Fi 4. J

renerically speakingthe invention resides inthe provision of a mold formcontainer or containers, each having one or a plurality of moldingcompartments, associated with a jigging support to imparta'jerky,-.agitating mot-ion thereto, for settling or consolidating thecontents thereof, the said molding compartments providing an open sidefor filling purposes which is adapted to be covered by a. palletclosure. This jigging is effected preferably both While the cementitiousmixture is being introduced into its mold form container as well as whenthe lling operations have been completech'after which the mold formcontainer is bodily turned over, specifically within its own zone, to besupported in a reversely inverted position on the same jigging support,so that its contents may be correspondingly jigged as thus inverted, forthe important reasons hereinafter set forth.

Before entering into a more specific description, it may also be statedhere that in employing herein any of the terms of mold form container,mold box, mold, or any such analogous expressions, the use thereof inthe singular number is intended to apply equally as well in the pluralsense, that is to say that there may be but one of such elements,whether having only one molding compartment or several, associated withits jigging support, or there may be several of such elements, whethereach has only one or a plurality of molding compartments, although forconvenience of description, and it is to be understood that it is forthat purpose solely, the singular number is only generally employedherein.

The numeral 5 indicates a suitably supported jigging table or itsequivalent. which, as hereinbefore stated, may be jigged eithervertically or horizontally, or with both motions for that matter, by anyof the suitable mechanisms commonly employed for ji gging purposesgenerally.

Also, any suitable means may be employed for mounting the mold box sothat 1t may be bodily elevated and lowered with reference to the jiggingtable, and in Figs. 1 to 3 of the dra-wings there is illustrated broadlya simple mechanism comprising a single pair of vertically disposed rods6, one at each end of the mold box, projecting upwardly throughcomplementary apertures in the jigging table and rectilinearly actuatedby any suitable means, not necessary toillustrate in these views for anunderstanding of the invention.

The upper end of each of the rods 6 provides means for trunnioning themold box, for bodily turning over or reversible movements wholly withinits own areal bounding limits, and these trunnioning means areconveniently indicated'by a pair of axial stud shafts 7, each one ofwhich is mounted by a supporting plate 8 that is centrally affixed toeach end of the mold box.

The mold box itself is designated at 9, and in these views there isshown a central longitudinal partitioning wall 10 for dividing the moldbox into two longitudinally disposed molding compartments that providesuitable core elements 11 4for molding double lugged building blocks ofthe form. shown at 12, although it will be obvious that replaceable coreelements may be en'iploycd for molding other forms and 4sizes of blocks.

The numeral 13 indicates-a cover or covers for the mold box, which mayalso serve as removable Supporting means for the molded blocks ashereinafter referred to, and I conveniently refer to this cover, orcovers as the case may be, by the term platen or pallet..

Any suitable means may be employed for detachably securing or clampingthe pallet cover or covers to the open top of the mold box. and I havesimply illustrated conventionally a typ'e of such securing means asvcomprising a pair of springy arms or clasp elements 14 that are suitablysupported by the mold box and manually operated by a lever 15 One ofthesel latching devices is mounted at each end of the mold box, and inthe drawings I have shown one of the clamps 14.- as engaging over thepallet 13 at each end thereof, there being two such pallets indicatedatvFigures 1 and 3, although it will be obvious that the cover may be anintegral one to jointly support a pair of the molded blocks instead ofsupporting them individually, if so desired. These details are notnecessarily essential inl their specific forms, to the broader inventioninvolved, and require no further description for a proper understandingof the real essence of the invention.

In the arrangement shown at Figures 4 and 5, the jigging support isindicated by the top 5 supported by side channel bars 1G. The mold box9, having the palletcovers 13, is at its ends trunnioned, as at 7, tothe upper transverse end bars 17, which latter are respectively mountedby the upper ends of paired vertical supporting rods 18, that freelyoperate rectilinearly through complementary apertures in the table top,and the other ends of these vertical rods 18 are fixedly supported bythelower or base transverse end bars 19. These base bars 19 are in turnsuspended by pairs of cables 20-21, that reave over. suitably journaledidler sheaves 22, being attached at their outer ends t0 eyelet lugs 23,of the base bars 19, and at their inner ends being" operativelyassociated with winding means. The winding means is conventionallyillustrated by a centrally disposed roller or drum element 24, suspendedfrom the channel side bars 16 by the journaled shaft ends 25, one ofwhich lat-ter is projected beyond yits channel bar 1G and carries a wormwheel 26 operated by the worm 27 on the shaft- 28, rotated by a crankarm 29. Obviously, however, it would be equivalent to employ propersheave elements, mounted on a cross shaft, instead of the actual rolleror drum 24 illustrated, and likewise actuating means other than thelspecific worm wheel and worm may be employed. l

Also, it will be observed that, in Figures 4 and 5, the moldingcompartments, and

their core elements 11, are disposed transversely of the mold box,`instead'of longitudinally thereof as in Figures 1 to 3, thecompartments being separated by a plurality of transverse partitioningwalls `10, and hence the form and arrangement of the latching means forthe cover or pallets have been accordingly altered to provide for theslightly changed conditions. l

Along each longitudinal face of the mold box, therefore, contiguously ofits open top, there is now disposed a rock shaft El() -mounting aplurality of short latching arms or clamps 3l, suitably spacedtherealong and there being at leastone of s ucli elements 31 for eachend of each pallet cover 13, :is-will be apparent, and these rock shafts3() mayk be oseillated to latch or unlatch the clamp elements 8l, withrelation to the pallet covers lll and as a conjoint operation, by thesimple arrangementillustrated in these tigures, compre-sing a member 32rotatably mounted on an end' of the mold box and providing an operatinghandle or lever arm 33, to which rotatable member 32 there are pivotallyconnected, at diametrically opposite positions, the inner ends ofoppositely projected link arms or rods 34, while the outer ends of saidrods l-at are pivotally con- -nected to short lever arms 35 carried bycol'nplementary ends of the rock shafts 30.

Obviously the elements 32--33-34-35 may` be duplicated at the other endof the mold box, for coi'ivenience of operations at either end, but thiswould not appear to be essen- `'tially necessary.

ln carrying forward the steps of operations, and referring particularlyto Figures 'l and 5 which are more complete in all details and fromwhich the operations of Figures 1' to 8 will be equally apparent, themold box 9 is first positioned on the jigging table 5, or itsequivalent, with its open top disposed upwardly, as would be indicatedat Figs. 1 and 4, but with the pallet covers 13 removed and with theclamping arms 14: 'or 8l operated to their unlatched positions.

rl1`he molding compartments are then filled with the cementitiousmixture, the filling thereof occurring while the. table or itsvequivalent is being jigged, for thus dis- -tributing the mixture evenlywithin the molding compartments. After this initial step, land whetheror `nota facing material' is added as will hereinafter appear, thepallet covers 13 are then placed over the open tops of the compartmentsandsecurely.

clamped down thereover by the aforesaid clamping arms in the mannerbefore referred to.'

As thus filled, covered and disposed, the jig-ging support is then againactuated with its jerky agitating motion'for a substantially suitableperiod of time, so that the quaky1 contents of the molding compartmentsbecome more and more consolidated ging support, as by means of themechanisml 17 to Q9 inclusive, and while so elevated it is revolved onits trunnions, and hence wholly within its own areal bounding limits,through an angle of 180, being then lowered to be supported or reseatedin an inverted position but occupying the same identicall space asinitially on the jigging support or with the pallets 13 now resting onthe jigging support, as would be indicated for instance at Fig. 2. Itis-to be particularly noted, however. that as thus reseated, in itsinverted. secondary position, the mold box occupies the same identicalspace as when in its initial position, and this as'contradistinguishedfrom having been bodily moved to another position, along the apparatus,

.substantially distant from its original posi- 'facing material becominglikewise consolidated with the body material of the block proper, andany excess water in thejfacing mixture will have been substantiallyexuded.

This final ope `ation` having been com@ plcted andthe jigging motion ofthe table or its equivalent having been stopped, it now only remains toactuate the operating lever 15 or 33 as the case may be to release thelatching clamps, whereupon the mold box 9 is again bodily elevated, bythe mech-- anisin before described, to the position shown at Figure 3 or5, leaving the molded blocks 12 released from their molding compartments and cores and resting on their respective pallets 13, which latternow serve as convenient supports for setting the molded blocks asideuntil they liave'become thoroughly indurated for commercial use.

'It may be further said that thistinal jigging is also of considerableimportance inasmuch as it loosens the ends of the webs of the blocks,making it more feasible to release the molded blocks and discharge the-mby gravity, as withoutv this final jigging there might be a decidedtendency towards the ends of the webs sticking to and being held in themold forms, making it necessary to jar or liolt the inold box to startthe release of the blocks, and prevent the ends of the webs fromremaining iii their compartments as the bodies thereof are beingdischarged.

Then the pallets with their molded blocks have been removed from thejigffing support, and with the mold box elevated as at Figure 3 or 5,the mold box. is again turned through an angle of 180, and hence whollywithin its own areal bounding limits, when it is then lowered to itsinitial position, as

indicated at Figure 1 or 4, whereupon the4 cycle of operations may berepeated by the employment of a new set of pallet covers, and thuscarried oii for an indefinite number of times.

I have described all of the, foregoing with more particular reference tothe molding of blocks that are not intended to have a finished facing ofgranite, marble or other material as before referred to, although inactual practice the latter may generally be employed, but it will beobvious that where such a facing is desired it will only be necessary toll the mold compartments to a limited height or, which is theequivalent, a portion of their contents may be removed with a suitablescraping implement, after the initial filling and jiggi'ng operations,whereupon the spaces left interiorly of the top of the moldingcompartments are filled with the facing material before the molds arereversed for the final j igginf', which latter causes the consolidationoitle face matter with the body matter of the block, as has already beenmentioned.

In all cases the steps of the operations are practically identical, andit is understood-that my invention is 4intended lto be applicable in allsuch relations.

While I have thus fully set forth my iiivention, it will beunde-rstood,.liowever, that I do not wish to unnecessarily restrictmyself to the exact. details as disclosed, but what I do claim as newand patente-ble is 1'. In apparatus for molding articles from a wetmixture, the combination of a suitably actuated jigging support,auxiliary supporting `means associated therewith and adapted to bevertically actuated independently thereof, a mold form containerseparably carried by said jigging support, which mold form container hasan enlarged top face opening and is so pivotally connected to saidvertically actuated auxiliary supporting means as to be bodilyinvertible. for reseating wholly within its own normal areal boundinglimits relatively to said jigging support, when bodily shifted to saidauxiliary supporting means away from said jigging support, closure meansfor 'said enlarged opening, and means fcr detachably securing saidclosure means tnereover.

2. In apparatus for molding building blocks from a wet cenientitiousmixture of the character disclosed, the combination of .a suitablysupported and actuated jigging table, supporting means associated withthe top of said table and adapted to be vertically actuatedindependently thereof, an open top mold box separably carried by'saidtable and so pivotally connected to said vertically actuated supportingmeans as to be bodily invertible, for i'eseating wholly within its ownnormal areal bounding limits relatively to said table, when elevated bysaid supporting means away from said table, pallet closure means forsaid mold box, and means for detachably securing said pallet closuremeans izpon tlie open top of said mold box.

8. In apparatus for molding building blocks from awet cementitiousmixture et the character disclosed, the combination ot' a suitablysupported and actuated jigging table, vertically disposed vsupportsvextending above said table and adapted to be rectilinearly actuatedindependently thereof` an open top mold box separably carried by saidtable and so pivotally mounted b v said vertically disposed supports asto lbe bodily iiivertible, for reseating wholly .within its own normalareal bounding limits relatively to said table, when elevated by saidvertically disposed supports away from said table, pallet closure meansfor the open top of said mold box, and means for detachably securingsaid pallet closure means 1n place.

4. In apparatus for molding a plurality of building blocks in a singlecycle of operations lfrom-a wet cementitious mixture of the characterdisclosed, the combination of a -suitably supported and actuated pggingtable, supporting meins associated with said table aiid adapted to beactuated vertically above and independently of said table, a mold boxseparably carried by said table and so pivotally connected to saidvertically actuated supporting means as to be bodily iiivertible, forreseating wholly within its own normal areal bounding limits relativelyto said table, when elevated by said supporting means away from saidtable, the said mold box providing a plurality of molding compartmentshaving normally open tops, pallet closure means for said open topcompartments',A and means for detachably secur- .ing said pallet closuremeans in place.

5. In apparatus for molding a plurality of building blocks in a singlecycle ofoperations from a wet cementitious mixture of the characterdisclosed, the combination of a suitablyv supported and actuated jiggingtable, auxiliary means associated with and operable towards and awayfrom said table, ainold b ox separably carried by said table and sopivotally mounted by said auxiliary means as to be bodily invertible,for rescating Wholly within its own normal areal bounding limitsrelatively to said table, when moved by said auxiliary means away fromsaid table, the said mold box providing a plurality of moldingcompartments liaving normally open tops, means for operating saidauxiliary means relatively to said table, pallet closure means for saidopen top compartments, and means for detachably Securing said palletclosure meansin place.

6. In apparatus for molding a plurality of building blocks in a singlecycle of operations from a Wet cementitious mixture of the characterdisclosed, the combination of a suitably supported and actuated jiggingtable, auxiliary means associated with and operable towards and awayfrom said table, a mold box separably carried by said table and sopivotally mounted by said auxiliary means as to be bodily invertible,for rescating wholly witliin its own normal areal bounding limitsrelatively to sai-d table, when moved by said auxiliar)r means away fromsaid table, the said mold box providing a plurality of moldingcompartments having normally open tops, pallet closure means for saidopen top compartments, means for detachably securing said pallet closuremeans in place, and means for o erating said auxiliary means relativelyto said table,

embodying suitably actuated gearing elements operatively associated withsaid auxa suitably supported and actuated jigging table, auxiliary meansassociated with and operable towards and away from said table,

a mold box separably carried by said table and so pivotally mounted bysaid auxiliary means as to be bodily invertible, relatively to saidtable, when moved by said auxiliary means away from said table, the saidmold box' providing a plurality of molding compartments having normallyopen. tops, means for operating said auxiliary means relatively to saidtable, pallet closure means for said open top compartments, and meansfor detacllably securing said pallet closure means inplace, embodymglever operated clamping members mounted by said mold box adjacent tosaid open tops and adapted to clamp over the complementary ends of saidpallet closure means.

` In testiinonywliereof, I aiix my signature.

i JOHN A. FERGUSON.

